Track-sanding device



Nov. 3, 1925;

W. C. BROWN TRACK SANDING DEVICE Filed June 24. 1925 INVENTOR. FVal ter6. Bron/n I W Q ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES sN'r orrics.

WALTER 0. BROWN, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

TRACK-SANDING- DEVICE.

Application filed June 24, 1925.

To (IZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, TALTER C. Brown, acitizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the countyof Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Track-Sanding Devices, of which the following isaspecification.

This invention relates to locomotive track sanding devices and has forits primary ob ject the provision, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,of an improved type of sanding device designed to overcome thefrequently occurring annoyance of having the sand clogging at the mouthof the discharge pipe due to moisture in the sand or due to the freezingof the sand and moisture in cold weather.

It is well known that during the weather when the temperature is farbelow the freezing point and particularlyin mountainous districts Wherethe temperature is extremely low, locomotive engineers experience agreat deal of trouble through the clogging of the sand pipe due to thefreezing of the moisture in the sand at the mouth of the discharge pipe.for overcoming this difliculty by the use of steam, to force the sandout of the discharge pipe onto the rail in front of the locomotive wheelbut it has been found that even steam in exceedingly -low temperatureshas con deused and frozen in the lower part of the sand pipe and therebystopped the operation of the sanding device.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatus for thefurnishing of hot dry compressed air through the sand pipe a substantialdistance above the discharge nozzle thereof, which air acts to dry outthe moisture from the sand and to discharge the sand from the nozzleofthe sand pipe in a heated and dry condition. After being heated anddried but before reaching the discharge nozzle of the sanding device, itis impossible for the sand to clog through freezing or other causes.

A further object of the invention is to act as a fuel conserverpreventing inconvenience of operators having to leave the cab to opensand ipes by hammering and knocking them, which causes them to be thrownout of line with rail, flattens and cracks pipes, which is the cause ofhaving them renewed very often.

Various methods have been devised Serial No. 39,293.

A further and final object of this invention is the provision, inamanner as hereinafter set forth, of a sanding device for use uponlocomotives which may be easily in stalled and with little expense, andfurther positive and eflicient in action.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of the specification, with the understandingthat the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with theshowing of the drawings but may be changed and modified so long as suchchanges and modifications mark no material departure from the salientfeatures of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows conventionally, a locomotive having the sanding apparatusembodying this invention installed therein,

Figure 2 is a section taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing themanner in which the compressed air heating coils are arranged in thesmoke box of the locomo tive,and,

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section through one side of thelocomotive smoke box showing an enlarged detailin edge elevation, onecompressed air heating coil.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals ofreferences indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,there is indicated conventionally by the numeral 1 a steam locomotivehaving the usual cab 2, drive wheels 3 and sand dome t located in thetop central portion of the locomotive boiler.

The forward portion of the locomotive body is broken away as shown todisclose the interior of the smoke box 5 through which the smoke fromthe fire box passes before leaving the smoke stack 6. I

In the device embodying this invention there leads from the sand dome 4from each side thereof two pair of sand lead-off pipes 7, each pairentering a Y coupling 8 from which there leads delivery pipes 9 and 10respectively. The delivery pipe 10 extends right to the underside of oneof the rear drive wheels 3 as shown while the delivery pipe 9 enters oneside of a Y, coupling 11 located in front of one of the front drivewheels 3 as shown. The discharge nozzle 12 extends from the outlet sideof the Y coupling 11 todeliver sand beneath the drive wheel and on tothe rail.

Although one side only of the locomotive has been shown in the drawings,the above described structure is duplicated 'upon the opposite sidethereof.

Located within the smoke box of the locomotive near the lower :partthereof, is a pair of coils l3 and 1 1 respectively. These coils asshown clearly in Figure 2'are arranged opposite one another and havereducing couplings 14: upon their terminalends. Connected to one of thereducing couplings 1.4, is a compressed air pipe line 15 which is laidbeneath the engine acket and extends back from the coil in the smoke boxto the engine cab 2 where it is connected with'the compr'esed 'air mainreservoir pipe (not shown) and in this pipe line 15 in the cab, isarranged a control valve 16 for controlling the flow of compresed airtherethrough.

From theother end of the coil 13 there is connected to the reducedcoupling 14 a sub stantially circular pipe 17 which extends up andaround-the interior of the smoke box 5 to the opposite side thereofwhere it connects into a similar reducing couplingconnected to one endof the other coil 14. From the lower portion of this other coil theree1:- tends the elbow 18 from which a lead-ofi pipe 19 extends andconnects into an inverted T-coupling 20 which is arranged beneath thecentral portion of the locomotive. From each arm of this T-coupling 20there extends the pipe lines 21 which connect into the other arm of a- Ycoupling 11 to deliver hot compressed air through this coupling to thedischarge nozzle 12.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that upon openingthe valve 16 the air from the compressed air chambers will be deliveredthrough the pipe 15 and into the coils 1?) and 14 in the smoke box ofthe locomotive. These coils being constantly at a very high temperaturewill immediately dry the compressed air and raise the same throughcorresponding high temperature and the air will be delivered from thecoil 14; through the pipes 19 and 21 to the discharge nozzle 12 to thefree open end of which itwill draw, as it passes out, sand from the sanddome 4. At the same time it will thorougl'lly dry the sand during itspassage through the nozzle 12 and deliver the sand beneath the drivewheels 3 in a hot dry condition.

Having thus described the invention what "I claim is nozzle to dry outthe sand therein and force the same from the nozzle.

,2. In a track sanding device, thecombination with a steam locomotive,including a smoke box and sand dome, of a sand discharge nozzle, meansfor conveying sand from said dome to said nozzle, aheating coil in-saidsmoke box, means for delivering compressed air-to said coil to be heatedtherein, and means for conveying the said air from said coil to anddelivering the same into said nozzle to dry the sand therein and causethe same to be discharged therefrom.

In testimony whereof, Iatfixmy signature hereto.

WALTER C. BROWN-.-

